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GLASGOW, SCOTLAND—Canadian Ariane Fortin matched the world champion virtually blow for blow Saturday night at the Commonwealth Games, eventually losing the gold medal to Savannah Marshall of England in a split decision.

But the fact the Canadian was back fighting in an international ring was remarkable in itself. Finally, she said, she was back where she belonged.

Canadian heavyweight Samir El-Mais (in red) connects on the way to winning Saturday's gold-medal bout against New Zealand's David Light at the Commonwealth Games. (ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

“Oh, totally, totally,” Fortin said, smiling.

Samir El-Mais won gold at 91 kilograms to cap a two-medal night for Canada. The 33-year-old from Windsor, Ont., defeated David Light of New Zealand, also by split decision, for Canada’s first Commonwealth boxing gold since 2002.

It was an historic performance for both Fortin and teammate Mandy Bujold, as women’s boxing made its Commonwealth debut. Bujold, from Kitchener, Ont., had captured bronze at 51 kilograms a night earlier.

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Fortin’s narrow loss at 75 kilograms was regardless a triumphant return to the ring for the 29-year-old from St. Nicholas, Que. The two-time world champion suffered a heartbreaking loss to friend-turned-rival Mary Spencer for a spot on the 2012 London Olympic team. The longtime friends were forced to fight against each other for the first time after women’s boxing was added to the Olympic schedule for London — with three of the eight weight classes. They were forced to face off at 75 kilos, and their heated battle for an Olympic berth was chronicled in the documentary Last Woman Standing.

Fortin lost her spot on the national team, as well as the majority of her funding, but kept training in her Quebec gym and arranging her own fights. She eventually defeated Spencer twice to earn back her spot on the national team.

That was clear Saturday night, when Fortin took it to the world champion. Fortin was the aggressor, which was part of the plan.

“What she does really well, she keeps a distance really well with her jab, she has good feet movement,” Fortin explained. “That’s why I had to be on her, pressure her.”

El-Mais, meanwhile, came out of retirement in 2010 and hasn’t lost a fight in Canada since.

Dabbing at his bloody nose while talking to reporters, El-Mais said the victory still “hasn’t hit me yet, but I’ve always wanted to win (gold).

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“And 10,000, 12,000 people are here, it’s huge, I’ve never fought in front of a crowd like this, it was loud. Great entrance, great drama, great atmosphere, loved every second of it, every punch, every blow. It was a success in the end.”

Like virtually every other venue at these Games, the 13,000-seat SSE Hydro — normally a concert hall — was jam-packed. Music blasted, the night opening with Europe’s “The Final Countdown.”

El-Mais is a native of the United Arab Emirates who moved to Windsor with his family about 20 years ago from Lebanon. He finished fifth at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and was intent on making up for that disappointment in Scotland.

“Glad to remake history,” El-Mais said, pausing to dabbing at the steady drip of blood from his nose. “I don’t know if it was the hype or what, the concentration, but I wasn’t all there (in 2010). We’re here now and I’m remaking mistakes. I’m redoing my mistakes and making them right.”

El-Mais said it wasn’t easy to step into the ring four times this past week and fight without headgear — the lack of which became a buzz story at these Games. The International Boxing Association decided to stop using headgear in events such as the Commonwealth Games last year, citing medical statistics showing the protective padding can cause jarring to boxers’ heads and contribute to brain damage.

Some trainers and boxers called for headgear to be reintroduced, however, because of the gruelling schedule in events as short as these Games.

“I’m loving it,” El-Mais said, grinning. “I think it’s a success. I know there’s going to be a lot of injuries, cuts, but every fighter before they start fighting, they know what they’re going into.”

Women still box in headgear in international competitions.

Canada enters the final day of competition third in the medal standings at 81 (31 gold, 16 silver, 34 bronze) behind England (165) and Australia (132).

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